Washing machine

ABSTRACT

A washing machine including a dissolving unit and a bubble generating unit. The dissolving unit includes a hollow outer body that has an open end, a hollow inner body that has an open end. The inner body is disposed in the outer body. The gap between the inner body and the outer body forms a dissolving flow path. A dissolving cap is coupled to one side of the outer body to retain air in the outer body and the inner body. A dissolving inlet port is formed on the dissolving cap to receive water supplied from the outside to the inner body.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit and priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2016-0124296, filed on Sep. 27, 2016, with the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference for all purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to washing machines, and more particularly, to mechanisms that facilitate removal of residual detergent on laundry.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Generally, a washing machine washes laundry by friction made between water and laundry when a pulsator rotates in the drum of the washing machine. Holes in the drum allow water to flow between the tub and the drum. During a washing, rinsing, or spin-drying process, water can be discharged out of the tub through a drain line, e.g., installed at a lower side of the tub.

After processing the laundry, there may be residual detergent or other foreign substances remaining on the washed clothes, which may cause irritating skin conditions to a user wearing the clothes, for example atopic dermatitis.

Various technologies have been developed to solve this problem, typically by supplying a concentrated water flow to the laundry clothes, where flow is generated by a separate device such as a pump. Unfortunately, the pump operation produces noise, and it is difficult to perform maintenance on the pump after the pump is repeatedly used.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a washing machine operable to generate and supply bubbles to facilitate removal of residual detergent and foreign substances remaining on laundry and thereby enhance cleaning effectiveness.

An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a washing machine including a dissolving unit, in which the dissolving unit includes: an outer body which is formed to have a hollow interior, and has the first side opened; an inner body which is opened at the first side and disposed in the outer body so that an outer circumferential surface of the inner body is spaced apart from an inner circumferential surface of the outer body to form a dissolving flow path; and a dissolving cap which is formed in a hemispheric shape, is coupled to the first side of the outer body so that air is stored in the outer body and the inner body, and has a dissolving inlet port formed so that the water supplied from the outside is supplied into the inner body.

An inclined part, of which the first area expands in diameter in a direction toward the dissolving cap, may be formed at the first side of the inner body.

The inner body may include a porous portion which is formed in the inclined part, and has a plurality of holes that is disposed in a circumferential direction of the inner body and guides the water supplied into the inner body so that the water overflows to the dissolving flow path.

The first end of the inner body may protrude in a radial direction of the inner body, and may be caught and supported by the first side of the outer body.

The dissolving cap may further include an expanding flow path which is formed at the first end of the dissolving inlet port facing the inner body, and expands in diameter along a hemispheric shape of the dissolving cap.

The outer body may further include a dissolving guide port which is formed at the second side of the outer body and guides the water with dissolved air stored in the dissolving unit so that the water with dissolved air is discharged.

The washing machine may further include a bubble generating unit which generates bubbles and is supplied with the water with dissolved air from the dissolving guide port.

The bubble generating unit may include: a bubble body which includes a bubble inlet port formed such that the water with dissolved air is supplied from the dissolving unit, and a bubble discharge port through which the generated bubbles are discharged; and a bubble nozzle which is disposed inside the bubble body, and includes a bubble flow path having an inner diameter that increases as it traverses from the bubble inlet port to the bubble discharge port.

The bubble body may include: a first body which has the first side at which the bubble inlet port is formed; and a second body which has the first side to which the the second side of the first body is detachably coupled, and the second side at which the bubble discharge port is formed.

The bubble flow path may be formed at the first side of the bubble nozzle, the first side of the bubble nozzle may face an inner circumferential surface of the first body, the second side of the bubble nozzle may face an inner circumferential surface of the second body, and an interior of the bubble nozzle may be formed in a hollow shape so that the bubble flow path and the bubble discharge port communicate with each other.

The bubble generating unit may further include a pressure reduction region which is formed between an interior of the second side of the bubble nozzle and an interior of the second body and reduces pressure of the bubbles passing through the bubble flow path.

The bubble generating unit may further include a bubble check valve which is disposed between the bubble inlet port and the bubble nozzle and opens and closes the bubble inlet port in accordance with pressure of the water with dissolved air introduced from the bubble inlet port.

Another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a washing machine including: a dissolving unit which includes an outer body which is formed to have a hollow interior, and has the first side opened, an inner body which is opened at the first side and disposed in the outer body, a dissolving flow path which is formed between the outer body and the inner body, a dissolving cap which is formed in a hemispheric shape, is coupled to the first side of the outer body so that air is stored in the outer body and the inner body, and has a dissolving inlet port formed so that the water supplied from the outside is supplied into the inner body, and a dissolving guide port which is formed at the second side of the outer body and guides a discharge of the water with dissolved air passing through the dissolving flow path; a bubble generating unit which is connected with the dissolving guide port and generates bubbles by being supplied with the water with dissolved air; and a tub into which the bubbles generated by the bubble generating unit are supplied.

According to the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, the washing machine having the dissolving unit may effectively mix water and stored air so that the air may be effectively dissolved in the water, thereby improving productivity for generating bubbles required to wash laundry and assist in removing residual detergent.

The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates the configuration of an exemplary a dissolving unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of an upper side of the exemplary dissolving unit in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates the configuration of an exemplary washing machine including the dissolving unit in FIG. 1 in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates the cross section of an exemplary bubble generating unit in FIG. 3 in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates an exploded perspective view of the exemplary dissolving unit in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part hereof. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawing, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented here.

Hereinafter, an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the technical field to which the present disclosure pertains may easily carry out the exemplary embodiment. The present disclosure may be implemented in various different ways, and is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described herein.

It is noted that the drawings are schematic, and are not illustrated based on actual scales. Relative dimensions and proportions of parts illustrated in the drawings are exaggerated or reduced in size for the purpose of clarity and convenience in the drawings, and any dimension is just illustrative but not restrictive. The same reference numerals designate the same structures, elements or components illustrated in two or more drawings in order to exhibit similar characteristics.

Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure illustrate ideal exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure in detail. As a result, various modifications of the drawings are expected. Therefore, the exemplary embodiments are not limited to specific forms in regions illustrated in the drawings, and for example, include modifications of forms by manufacture.

Hereinafter, an exemplary washing machine 101 including a dissolving unit 300 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the exemplary dissolving unit 300 includes an outer body 310, an inner body 320, and a dissolving cap 330.

The outer body 310 may be hollow and opens at the first side. The second side (opposite to the first side) of the outer body 310 may be substantially hemispheric. As an example, a cross section of the outer body 310 may have approximately a “U” shape.

Like the outer body 310, the first side of the inner body 320 may be open, and the second side (opposite to the first side) may be hemispheric. The inner body 320 may be disposed inside the outer body 310. Further, the space between an outer circumferential surface of the inner body 320 and the inner circumferential surface of the outer body 310 forms a dissolving flow path. The first side of the inner body 320 may be supported by the first side of the outer body 310.

As an example, a cross section of the inner body 320 may have approximately a “U” shape.

The dissolving cap 330 may be formed in a hemispheric shape. Specifically, the first end of the dissolving cap 330 is coupled to the first side of the outer body 310, and the dissolving cap 330 may extend outward from the outer body 310 and toward a central portion that faces a center of the outer body 310.

The dissolving cap 330 is coupled to the first side of the outer body 310. Air can be contained in the dissolving cap 330 as well as between the outer body 310 and the inner body 320.

A dissolving inlet port 331 is disposed in the dissolving cap 330. The dissolving inlet port 331 can guide water supplied from the outside into the inner body 320. More specifically, the dissolving inlet port 331 may be formed at the top of the hemispheric dissolving cap 330 and extend along a radial direction of the dissolving cap 330.

The hemispheric dissolving cap 330 and the outer body 310, the inner body 320 can all contain air therein.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the dissolving unit 300 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may further include an inclined part 323.

The inclined part 323 may be disposed at the first side of the inner body 320 and have an increasingly larger diameter toward the dissolving cap 330. More specifically, the inclined part 323 may be formed such that the first area at the side of the inner body 320 is inclined toward the inner circumferential surface of the outer body 310. The inclined part 323 may be part of the inner body 320 or coupled to the inner body 320.

Water introduced into the inner body 320 through the dissolving inlet port 331 may first enter the inner body 320 without flowing to the inner circumferential surface of the outer body 310. Water introduced through the dissolving inlet port 331 can merge with the supplied water when coming into contact with the inclined part 323, and as a result, air may be effectively dissolved in the supplied water.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the dissolving unit 300 may further include a porous portion 321.

The porous portion 321 may be disposed in the inner body 320. The porous portion 321 may guide water in the inner body 320 to overflow to the dissolving flow path 308. More specifically, the porous portion 321 may be disposed in the inclined part 323 of the inner body 320. The porous portion 321 may have a plurality of holes disposed in the inclined part 323 and along the circumferential direction of the inner body 320.

Water introduced into the inner body 320 accumulates in the inner body 320. Water continuously flowing through the dissolving inlet port 331 encounters and merges with water in the inner body 320. Water may flow along the longitudinal direction of the inner body 320 in a direction adjacent to the first side of the inner body 320, and may also overflow to the dissolving flow path 308 through the porous portion 321.

Therefore, the porous portion 321 allows water introduced into the dissolving unit 300 to flow to the inner body 320, to the outer body 310, and to the dissolving flow path 308 between the inner body 320 and the outer body 310. During the course of water flowing, air stored in the dissolving unit 300 can be effectively dissolved in the water. In this manner, the dissolving unit 300 may effectively advantageously produce a mixture water and air without using a separate agitating device for the dissolving process.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 2, each of the plurality of holes in the porous portion 321 may be approximately rectangular and has the longer sides approximately parallel to the longitudinal direction of the inner body 320.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, in the dissolving unit 300, the first end of the inner body 320 may be held and supported by the first side of the outer body 310. The first end of the inner body 320 may be an end tip of the inner body 320, e.g., may be an end tip at the first side of the inner body 320. The first end of the inner body 320 may be enlarged radially. A diameter of the first end of the inner body 320 is larger than an inner diameter of the outer body 310, and thus the first end of the inner body 320 may be supported by the open side (the first side) of the outer body 310. That is, the first end of the inner body 320 may be supported by the wall at the first side of the outer body 310.

As the first end of the inner body 320 is enlarged radially, the outer circumferential surface of the inner body 320 may be spaced apart from the inner circumferential surface of the outer body 310 and forms the dissolving flow path 308.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the dissolving unit 300 may further include an expanding flow path 335 formed at the first end of the dissolving inlet port 331. A portion of the expanding flow path 335 that faces the inner body 320 may have an increasingly larger diameter and approximately conform to the hemispheric shape of the dissolving cap 330.

More specifically, the expanding flow path 335 is disposed at the first end of the dissolving inlet port 331 which faces the inner body 320. The expanding flow path 335 may increase in diameter toward the inner body 320 and conform to the hemispheric shape of the dissolving cap 330.

Water introduced into the dissolving inlet port 331 may be effectively sprayed into the dissolving unit 300 along the expanding flow path 335. This offers increased contact area between water and air in the dissolving unit 300.

The outer body 310 may further include a dissolving guide port 311. The dissolving guide port 311 may be disposed at the second side of the outer body 310 and may protrude away from the axis of the outer body 310. The dissolving guide port 311 may guide the mixture of water and air to be discharged to the outside of the dissolving unit 300.

The washing machine 101 may further include a bubble generating unit 400 that can generate bubbles by using the mixture of water and air supplied through the dissolving guide port 311.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the bubble generating unit 400 may include a bubble body 410 and a bubble nozzle 420.

The bubble body 410 may include a bubble inlet port 411 and a bubble discharge port 412. The bubble inlet port 411 may guide the water/air mixture that is supplied from the dissolving unit 300 into the bubble generating unit 400. The bubble discharge port 412 may guide bubbles generated by the bubble generating unit 400 to be discharged out of the bubble generating unit 400, and allow the bubbles to be supplied into the tub of the washing machine 101.

The bubble nozzle 420 may be disposed inside the bubble body 410. The bubble nozzle 420 may include a bubble flow path 421 having an inner diameter increasing from the bubble inlet port 411 to the bubble discharge port 412. That is, the water/air mixture passes through the bubble inlet port 411 and then may be deaerated while passing through the bubble flow path 421, thereby generating bubbles.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the bubble body 410 of the washing machine 101 may include a first body 415 and a second body 416.

The bubble inlet port 411 may be disposed at the first side of the first body 415. The first side of the second body 416 is detachably coupled to the second side of the first body 415. More specifically, screw threads may be disposed on an outer circumferential surface of the second side of the first body 415. Screw threads may also be disposed on an inner circumferential surface at the first side of the second body 416 and may be engaged with the screw threads on the outer circumferential surface of the first body 415.

The bubble discharge port 412 may be disposed at the second side of the second body 416. More specifically, the bubble inlet port 411 and the bubble discharge port 412 may be coaxial. That is, the bubble nozzle 420 may be disposed between the second side of the first body 415 and the first side of the second body 416.

Therefore, the water/air mixture introduced through the bubble inlet port 411 of the first body 415 can produce bubbles when flowing through the bubble flow path 421 of the bubble nozzle 420. The generated bubbles may be discharged to the outside of the bubble generating unit 400 through the bubble discharge port 412 of the second body 416.

The first body 415 and the second body 416 may be detachably coupled to each other. If a foreign substance or the like is trapped in the bubble flow path 421 disposed in the bubble nozzle 420, a user can conveniently remove it by decoupling the first body 415 and the second body 416. During manufacturing or installation, the first body 415, the second body 416, and the bubble nozzle 420 may be advantageously and efficiently assembled together.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the bubble nozzle 420 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may be disposed between the first body 415 and the second body 416.

The bubble flow path 421 may be disposed at the first side of the bubble nozzle 420. An outer circumferential surface at the first side of the bubble nozzle 420 may face an inner circumferential surface of the first body 415.

The second side of the bubble nozzle 420 may be hollow. An outer circumferential surface at the second side of the bubble nozzle 420 may face an inner circumferential surface of the second body 416. The first side of the bubble nozzle 420 have a smaller diameter than its second side. Therefore, the inner circumferential surface at the first side of the second body 416 may face the outer circumferential surface at the second side of the first body 415 as well as the outer circumferential surface at the second side of the bubble nozzle 420.

Since the second side of the bubble nozzle 420 is hollow, the bubble flow path 421 disposed at the first side of the bubble nozzle 420 and the bubble discharge port 412 disposed at the second side of the second body 416 may communicate with each other.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the bubble generating unit 400 may further include a nozzle sealing member 450 disposed between the second side of the first body 415 and the second side of the bubble nozzle 420.

The nozzle sealing member 450 is disposed between the outer circumferential surface at the first side of the bubble nozzle 420 and the inner circumferential surface of the second body 416. The nozzle sealing member 450 may prevent bubbles from leaking to the gap between the first body 415 and the second body 416.

The bubble generating unit 400 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may further include a pressure reduction region 440.

The pressure reduction region 440 may be disposed between the bubble nozzle 420 and the bubble discharge port 412. More specifically, the pressure reduction region 440 may be disposed between the hollow interior at the second side of the bubble nozzle 420 and an interior of the second body 416 that corresponds to the hollow interior at the second side of the bubble nozzle 420. The pressure reduction region 440 collects bubbles that have passed through the bubble flow path 421. Pressures of the bubbles are reduced in the pressure reduction region 440, and then the bubbles are discharged through the bubble discharge port 412.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the bubble generating unit 400 may further include a bubble check valve 430. The bubble check valve 430 may be disposed between the bubble inlet port 411 and the bubble nozzle 420. More specifically, the bubble check valve 430 can open the bubble inlet port 411 in accordance with the pressure of the water/air mixture that has passed through the bubble inlet port 411, thereby guiding the mixture to pass through the bubble flow path 421 of the bubble nozzle 420. If the flow reverses (e.g., flows from the bubble discharge port 412, through the bubble flow path 421, and then toward the bubble inlet port 411), the bubble check valve 430 may close the bubble inlet port 411 to prevent the flow back to the dissolving unit 300.

Thus, the bubble check valve 430 serves as a check valve that ensures the bubble inlet port 411 and the bubble flow path 421 to communicate with each other only in the first direction.

Hereinafter, an exemplary operational process of the washing machine 101 including the dissolving unit 300 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the washing machine 101 may include a tub 200 which stores washing water, a wasing tub 250 disposed in the tub 200, a pulsator 260 disposed in the washing tub 250, a drive unit 270 that can drive the rotation of the pulsator 260 and the washing tub 250, a drain line 210 which is installed at a lower side of the tub 200, and the bubble generating unit 400 which can generate bubbles by using the water/air mixture supplied from the dissolving unit 300 and then supply the bubbles into the tub 200.

The dissolving unit 300 may further include a dissolving drain port 312, an air supply check valve 340, and a discharge check valve 350.

The dissolving guide port 311 may be disposed at the second side of the outer body 310 and extend outward from the outer body 310. The dissolving guide port 311 supplies the water mixed with air to the bubble generating unit 400.

The dissolving drain port 312 is spaced apart from the dissolving guide port 311, and may be disposed on the outer body 310 and lower than the dissolving guide port 311. As an example, the dissolving drain port 312 may be disposed at the bottom of the hemispheric side of the outer body 310 and extend along the axial direction of the outer body 310.

The discharge check valve 350 is disposed at the second hemispheric side of the outer body 310, and can open according to the amount or pressure of water remaining in the dissolving unit 300. More specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 5, water remaining in the inner body 320 is discharged through the inner hole 322 at the second hemispheric side of the inner body 320, the dissolving drain port 312, and then the drain line 210 which is installed at the lower side of the tub 200. Along this path, water stored in the tub 200 is discharged outside of the tub 200.

The air supply check valve 340 is installed in the dissolving cap 330, and may be opened in accordance with pressure in the dissolving unit 300. When the discharge check valve 350 is opened and the water remaining in the dissolving unit 300 is discharged to the drain line 210, the air supply check valve 340 is opened to introduce air to the dissolving unit 300. With the increased air pressure, the residual water may be more efficiently discharged to the drain line 210 through the dissolving drain port 312.

When water remaining in the dissolving unit 300 is discharged and the dissolving unit 300 is filled with air, the air supply check valve 340 and the discharge check valve 350 are closed. In this state, air may be retained in the dissolving unit 300.

The bubble generating unit 400 may include the bubble body 410, the bubble nozzle 420, the pressure reduction region 440, and the bubble check valve 430.

The bubble body 410 may include the bubble inlet port 411 and the bubble discharge port 412. More specifically, the bubble inlet port 411 may be disposed at the first side of the bubble body 410 and coupled with the dissolving guide port 311. The bubble discharge port 412 may be disposed at the second side of the bubble body 410.

The bubble nozzle 420 may be disposed inside the bubble body 410. The bubble nozzle 420 includes the bubble flow path 421 which has the inner diameter increasing from the bubble inlet port 411 to the bubble discharge port 412. More specifically, water/air mixture that is introduced into through bubble inlet port 411 may be deaerated while passing through the bubble flow path 421, thereby generating bubbles.

As an example, a single or a plurality of bubble flow paths 421 may be formed in the bubble nozzle 420. That is, one or more bubble flow paths 421 may be formed in the bubble nozzle 420.

The pressure reduction region 440 may be disposed in the bubble body 410 between the bubble nozzle 420 and the bubble discharge port 412. The pressure reduction region 440 may have a larger diameter than the first side of the bubble flow path 421 which is disposed closer to the bubble discharge port 412 than the bubble inlet port 411. For example, the interior of the bubble body 410 having the pressure reduction region 440 may have a diameter larger than the sum of sizes of the first side of all the bubble flow paths 421.

Pressures of the bubbles can be reduced in the pressure reduction region 440 while passing through the bubble flow path 421. The bubbles may then be supplied into the tub 200 through the bubble discharge port 412.

The bubble check valve 430 may be disposed between the bubble inlet port 411 in the bubble body 410 and the bubble nozzle 420. The bubble check valve 430 may allow the water/air mixture to flow from the bubble inlet port 411 to the bubble nozzle 420. The bubble check valve 430 may also block a flow of fluid introduced into the bubble inlet port 411 from the bubble discharge port 412.

The bubble check valve 430 opens the bubble inlet port 411 by pressure from the water/air mixture (or the fluid) that is introduced into the bubble inlet port 411. Thus, the mixture can pass through the bubble flow path 421 disposed in the bubble nozzle 420. When fluid is supplied from the bubble discharge port 412 and flows to the bubble inlet port 411, the bubble check valve 430 closes the bubble inlet port 411, thereby preventing fluid from being supplied into the dissolving unit 300.

The washing machine 101 may further include a water level sensor and a control unit. More specifically, the washing machine 101 may further include a sensor or the like for detecting a flow rate or a level of the water supplied into the dissolving unit 300. Based on the current level of the water in the dissolving unit 300 as detected by the sensor, the control unit may determine whether a predetermined or larger amount of water has been supplied into the dissolving unit 300. If yes, the control unit determines that the bubble generating unit 400 cannot effectively generate bubbles with the amount of air remaining in the dissolving unit 300, and accordingly stops the supply of the water to the dissolving unit 300.

In this case, the water/air mixture in the dissolving unit 300 is supplied into the bubble generating unit 400 through the dissolving guide port 311. More specifically, as the mixture remaining in the dissolving unit 300 is insufficient to open the bubble check valve 430, it is discharged out of the dissolving unit 300 through the dissolving drain port 312. In this situation, the discharge check valve 350 is opened by the mixture and allows it to be discharged to the drain line 210 through the dissolving drain port 312.

That is, water introduced into the dissolving inlet port 331 is sprayed into the dissolving unit 300 along the expanding flow path 335, and the sprayed water is introduced and stored in the inner body 320. Water introduced into the dissolving inlet port 331 merges with the stored water and flows along the longitudinal direction of the inner body 320 from the second side to the first side of the inner body 320, and then flows to the inclined part 323. Water flowing along the inclined part 323 overflows to the dissolving flow path 308 through the porous portion 321, and may be effectively mixed with the air stored in the dissolving unit 300. Hence as water flows inside the dissolving unit 300, air can be effectively dissolved in the water.

Water/air mixture flows through the dissolving flow path 308 and is supplied into the bubble inlet port 411 of the bubble generating unit 400 through the dissolving guide port 311, thereby advantageously generating bubbles. Bubbles generated by the bubble generating unit 400 may be supplied into the tub 200 through the bubble discharge port 412, particularly through a supply nozzle 220 disposed on the tub 200.

When the control unit stops supplying water into the dissolving unit, some water is introduced into the bubble inlet port 411. In this situation, the amount of water in the dissolving unit decreases and eventually cannot open the bubble check valve 430 of the bubble generating unit 400.

The discharge check valve 350 is opened by the residual water, such that the water remaining in the dissolving unit 300 is discharged to the drain line 210 through the dissolving drain port 312. In this case, the pressure in the dissolving unit 300 is decreased, and as a result, the air supply check valve 340 is opened such that outside air may be introduced into the dissolving unit 300.

The discharge check valve 350 is closed based on a supply of water being supplied into the dissolving unit 300 again or based on air pressure inside the dissolving unit 300. When the air pressure in the dissolving unit 300 is at or above the predetermined value, the air supply check valve 340 may stop the air flow from the outside accordingly.

With the aforementioned first configuration, the exemplary dissolving unit 300 may supply water mixed with dissolved air for generating bubbles used for washing laundry and removing residual detergent from the laundry.

While the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art will understand that the present disclosure may be implemented in any second specific form without changing the technical spirit or an essential feature thereof.

Accordingly, it should be understood that the aforementioned exemplary embodiment is described for illustration in all aspects and is not limited, and the scope of the present disclosure shall be represented by the claims to be described below, and it should be construed that all of the changes or modified forms induced from the meaning and the scope of the claims, and an equivalent concept thereto are included in the scope of the present disclosure.

From the foregoing, it is appreciated that various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described herein for purposes of illustration, and that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the various embodiments disclosed herein are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A washing machine comprising: a tub configured to contain washing water; and a dissolving unit comprising: an outer body that is hollow and comprising a first side that is open; an inner body comprising a first side that is open and disposed in the outer body; a dissolving flow path formed between the outer body and the inner body; and a dissolving cap coupled to the first side of the outer body and comprising a dissolving inlet port, wherein the dissolving inlet port is configured to receive water supplied to the inner body.
 2. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the dissolving cap is substantially hemispheric in shape and operable to retain air in the inner body and the outer body.
 3. The washing machine of claim 2, wherein the inner body comprises an inclined part, wherein the inclined part inclines toward the dissolving cap and forms an enlarged opening.
 4. The washing machine of claim 3, wherein the inner body further comprises a porous portion disposed in the inclined part, and wherein the porous portion comprises a plurality of holes operable to allow water in the inner body to overflow to the dissolving flow path.
 5. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein a first end of the inner body has an enlarged diameter relatively to another end of the inner body, and wherein the first end of the inner body is held and supported by the first side of the outer body.
 6. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the dissolving cap further comprises an expanding flow path formed at a first end of the dissolving inlet port facing the inner body, wherein the expanding flow path has an increasingly larger diameter along a hemispheric shape of the dissolving cap.
 7. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the outer body further comprises a dissolving guide port disposed at a second side of the outer body and configured to discharge water mixed with dissolved air.
 8. The washing machine of claim 7 further comprising: a bubble generating unit configured to generate bubbles from the water mixed with dissolved air that is supplied from the dissolving guide port.
 9. The washing machine of claim 8, wherein the bubble generating unit comprises a bubble body comprising: a bubble inlet port for receiving the water mixed with dissolved air from the dissolving unit; and a bubble discharge port for discharging bubbles out of the bubble body.
 10. The washing machine of claim 9, wherein the bubble generating unit further comprises: a bubble nozzle disposed inside the bubble body; and a bubble flow path having an increasingly larger inner diameter from the bubble inlet port to the bubble discharge port.
 11. The washing machine of claim 10, wherein the bubble body further comprises: a first body comprising a first side and a second side, wherein the bubble inlet port is disposed on the first side of the first body; and a second body comprising: a first side detachably coupled to the second side of the first body; and a second side, wherein the bubble discharge port is disposed on the second side of the second body.
 12. The washing machine of claim 11, wherein the bubble flow path is formed at a first side of the bubble nozzle that faces an inner circumferential surface of the first body, wherein a second side of the bubble nozzle faces an inner circumferential surface of the second body, and wherein further the bubble nozzle is hollow and configured to allow the bubble flow path and the bubble discharge port to communicate with each other.
 13. The washing machine of claim 12, wherein the bubble generating unit further comprises a pressure reduction region disposed between an interior at the second side of the bubble nozzle and an interior of the second body, wherein the pressure reduction region is configured to reduce pressure of bubbles passing through the bubble flow path.
 14. The washing machine of claim 10, wherein the bubble generating unit further comprises a bubble check valve disposed between the bubble inlet port and the bubble nozzle, wherein the bubble check valve is configured to open and close the bubble inlet port in accordance with a pressure of the water mixed with dissolved air introduced from the bubble inlet port.
 15. A washing machine comprising: a dissolving unit configured to produce a water/air mixture by dissolving air in water when water flows inside the dissolving unit; a bubble generating unit coupled to the dissolving unit and configured to generate bubbles from the water/air mixture; and a tub configured to contain washing water, wherein bubbles generated by the bubble generating unit are supplied to the tub.
 16. The washing machine of claim 15, wherein the dissolving unit comprises: an outer body having a hollow interior and comprising a first side formed to be opened; and an inner body comprising a first side formed to be opened and disposed in the outer body.
 17. The washing machine of claim 16, wherein the dissolving unit further comprises: a dissolving flow path formed between the outer body and the inner body; and a dissolving cap having an approximately hemispheric shape, wherein the dissolving cap is coupled to the first side of the outer body and operable to retain air in the outer body and the inner body.
 18. The washing machine of claim 16, wherein the dissolving unit further comprises: a dissolving inlet port configured to allow water to be introduced to the inner body; and a dissolving guide port disposed on the second side of the outer body and configured to allow the water/air mixture to be discharged out of the dissolving unit.
 19. The washing machine of claim 18, wherein the bubble generating unit is coupled to the dissolving guide port.
 20. The washing machine of claim 18, wherein the dissolving unit comprising: a dissolving drain port is spaced apart from the dissolving guide port in the outer body, and lower than the dissolving guide port; an air supply check valve in the dissolving cap; and an inner hole at a second side of the inner body for discharging water remaining in the inner body. 